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Pop-up dinner party season is here! Its my favorite time of the year. A pop-up dinner party is where we go to a really amazing public park or space and set up a fancy dinner party in the middle of nowhere. There are a certain number of minor obstacles you have to plan for like: lighting, keeping the food hot or cold, and then just the logistics of moving tables, chairs, plates to your spot. But even with the tricky logistics it is so worth it. They are super fun and it’s the easiest way to make a super-memorable evening. I have a few different ideas for the ones I’m going to throw this summer. I’ll be sure and share photos when we do them! Here are some photos of some that I’ve thrown in the past.

One of my good friends Fergi was in town so we threw her a party for her birthday on a public pier in Sausalito, here is the original post. We had sweeping views of the city and the bridge. The weather was cold that night but it was still pretty fun.

We used to live downtown and we had the best roof so we had a dinner party on the roof for my friend Jared’s birthday. We even got an industrial bubble machine off in the corner so pretty bubbles were floating around us.

This party on the pier was the first we ever did. It was for my friend Emily’s birthday. We didn’t tell the guests where it was until the last minute (here are the invitations), just telling them to dress warm. So when they showed up it was a total surprise. We had views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge. The weather was really gorgeous that night, we got really really lucky.

Would you ever throw a pop-up dinner party? Even if you didn’t live in a city it would be cool to do it in the middle of the desert or a giant corn field or on top of a lookout point. Where would you do it?

I would do a pop-up dinner party near a grape vineyard. I currently live in wine-making country & we have grape vineyards everywhere. In the fall, the smell of grapes, the crisp fall air, would be a perfect setting for a dinner party.

This is incredible! I just love this idea! If only I wasn’t so busy planning the wedding I would certainly plan one of these! It’ll have to wait until next year.
I would either throw one on the beach or in the city park. Or! Ohh…there’s a mountain with a cement pad on it for roller hockey. That would be a beautiful spot.
Oh Jordan you’re giving me quite the urge to take on more planning than I can handle right now!

Annie

July 23, 201212:50 pm

These sound like so much fun! Roofs and bridges are both great ideas. Also, I was wondering where you got the battery operated led lights.

I love this idea! We live on the east coast of Australia and have a little island nearby that you can walk to at low tide. I love the idea of setting up a table with a white table cloth, twinkling lights and having a fancy evening picnic there while the tide is high.

We have a lot of covered bridges in my neck of the woods, there’s also a great park with a charming old basketball court – perfect for a pop-up dinner. How did you deal (or did you have too at all) with the “public,” and did you find any need to inform authorities?

Also if you have a browse on the blog you will see many many photos of me and my Bridal party having so much fun with your Printable Photo Booth Props a few months back! They were a highlight at our wedding, Thank you so much for making them available!

Awesome! I live on the prairies, so a dinner party in a sea of golden wheat with a view of the mountains would definitely be in order. I love how you kept a secret from your guests. I think the hostess should always have a secret when planning a dinner party. Mystery location…mystery guest list…mystery meat…

Awesome idea! Like Tan above, I’m in the final weeks of pre-wedding organisation(!) but wish I could legitimately devote some time to organising one of these. London has so many great places… (albeit seldom the good weather to make outdoor eating feasible)… the rose garden in Hyde Park (or the meadow part of Kensington Gardens..ooh, or the italian gardens fountain in Kensington Gdns. No prizes for guessing where I spent the morning;).. or the top of Primrose Hill, or under the old gas towers in Bethnal Green…

I love this idea, but do you have to inform the city somehow? If so… what do you ask them?

Sarah

July 26, 201210:50 am

I love the idea, and will probably do some kind of version of this for my 30th birthday bonfire at the beach next month! I think the ultimate outdoor pop-up dinners can be found at http://www.outstandinginthefield.com I’ve been dreaming of going to one.

Becky

July 30, 20124:38 am

Oh my! What a gorgeous idea! Would love to go this but living in unpredictably rainy England it would be really hard to do!